CN219789241U

CN219789241U - Separating apparatus and container article

Info

Publication number: CN219789241U
Application number: CN202222959509.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·赫尔纳; S·尤利内克; B·舒尔策; J·瓦尔登梅尔
Original assignee: Kocher Plastik Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Kocher Plastik Maschinenbau GmbH
Priority date: 2021-11-06
Filing date: 2022-11-04
Publication date: 2023-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-04
Also published as: DE102021005494A1; WO2023078661A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to a separating device and a container product, comprising a separating element (10) which is held by a holding device (12) which carries out a separating process on a separating object in a mutually opposite feed direction in a movably guided manner by means of a drive device (14) at least in one direction, characterized in that the separating element (10) is constructed in a strip-shaped manner, the holding device (12) accommodates the separating element (10) between opposing holders (16, 18), and the separating element (10) can be moved through the separating object along a curved path by means of the holding device (12). The utility model also relates to a container product made of plastic using the separating device according to the utility model, characterized in that a cycloolefin-containing and/or fluorine-containing and/or chlorine-containing thermoplastic polymer is used as the plastic material. The cutting device in the prior art is improved by the utility model.

Description

Separating apparatus and container article

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a separation apparatus.

The utility model also relates to a container article manufactured from plastic using the separating device according to the utility model.

Background

An apparatus for producing and filling containers with a mold is known from WO 02/4987 A2, which has a mold with at least one movable mold wall into which at least one hose of plasticized plastic material can be extruded, whose mold parts can be closed for filling the container through welding edges lying thereon, the front end of the hose being welded for forming the container bottom, and a pressure gradient for producing a pressure gradient acting on the hose and widening the hose for forming the container on the mold wall, which has a movable knife that can be moved between a retracted basic position and an operating position for forming a filling opening above the mold by dividing the hose, and a slide for moving the mold into a filling position for filling the container through the filling opening, as a cover that can be moved jointly with the knife and can be heated being provided in such a position arrangement and having such a size that the cover in the operating position of the knife guides the movement of the cover into the filling opening into the filling position of the mold. The hot knife used is used for separating the hose and has a wedge with a conically extending separating surface. Covering the filling opening of the hose by means of a sterile barrier plate runs the following risks: before the mould has reached the filling of the sterile cavity, particles or possibly bacteria-containing ambient air may reach the open filling opening after the tube has been divided. In this case, the barrier plate is heated to a sterilization temperature, preferably greater than 150 ℃.

Despite these precautions, oxidation and decomposition products and soot particles, also referred to below simply as contaminants, are produced by the combustion process of the plastic material in the described thermally implemented cutting of the plastic hose, in particular on the wedge-shaped hot separating surface, which are produced directly between the barrier plate and the filling opening by the cutting. Thereby, the barrier plate more easily introduces contaminants into the hose interior and thus into the container interior without impeding it. In addition, the barrier plate also prevents an efficient aspiration of contaminants from the area of the fill opening. The real problem of the cutting process, namely the formation of in particular particulate contaminants, is not addressed by this prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from the prior art, the object of the utility model is: the cutting device in the prior art is improved. The separation device according to the utility model achieves the stated object.

For this purpose, the utility model provides a separating device having separating elements which are held by holding means which, by means of a drive, carry out a separating process on the separating body in a manner guided in a movable manner in mutually opposite feed directions at least in one direction, wherein the separating elements of the separating device are configured in a belt-like manner and the holding means accommodate the separating elements between opposing holders, the separating elements being movable through the separating body along a curved path by means of the holding means. In this way, a separation of the plastic hose with little contamination is achieved within the meaning described above, in particular in the context of the production of blow-molded, filled and closed container articles. By means of a strip-shaped separating element guided along a curved track, which can be heated in a controlled manner, it is surprising to the person skilled in the art that a reduced formation of solid and/or liquid and/or gaseous contaminants is brought about during the separating process. The curved separation or cutting curve also enables: the hose is separated very close to the upper side of the holding jaw or very close to the upper side of the hose clamp, which results in an efficient material use. It is also possible in this connection that: pure air with low particle and low bacteria is supplied and/or sucked out between the mentioned holding jaw/hose clamp and the separating element. By means of the curved separating or cutting guide, only minimal formation of contaminants, if any, is caused, since only minimal edge contact between the separating element or the cutting tool and the hose takes place in this connection. This is unexpected because the effect occurs despite the longer cutting path required according to the present utility model relative to a straight cut as shown in the prior art.

Thus, with the cutting device solution according to the utility model an improved separation and cutting geometry of the hose material can also be obtained, which simplifies the implementation of the subsequent processing steps. In contrast to the previously described solid design of the tool with hot baffle and wedge according to WO02/49821A2, it is also sufficient to reduce the mass to be moved: the light separating element is reciprocated by means of the holding means in mutually opposite curved feed directions, which improves the accuracy in the separating process according to the utility model and enables a suitable flow of both particle-and fungus-free pure air.

In a preferred embodiment of the separation device according to the utility model, provision is made for: the separating elements are accommodated in the holding device with a predefinable inclination relative to the respective feed direction. Preferably, the strip-shaped separating element is accommodated in the holding device at an inclination angle for obtaining a predefinable inclination, which inclination angle is between 3 ° and 15 °, preferably between 3 ° and 10 °, relative to the horizontal, such that the respective separating edge is arranged on the lowermost face of the separating element, viewed in the vertical direction, during the horizontal feed movement of the separating element. As the separating edge strikes the separating object, which is usually in the form of a hose, a linear continuous separation of the wall sections to be separated is effected, and a damage-free separation process is carried out with minimal formation of any type of contaminants, due to the otherwise slightly rising inclination of the separating element, which is guided along the curved path, relative to the reference horizontal. The separated plastic material is guided almost weakly on the upper side of the strip-shaped separating element, whereas the lower hose section is moved away from the separating element as determined by the method, so that contaminants caused by undesired heat input do not form at all in this region. In particular, the wall parts that extend smoothly as the separation process reaches the separation point, said wall parts contribute to a simplified subsequent shaping process in the manufacturing machine.

It has proved advantageous in the context of a separation with low contamination: the separating element, starting from its separating edge, is provided with two opposite faces extending parallel to one another in order to form a belt, it has proven to be particularly advantageous: the separating element is configured asymmetrically as seen in cross section and is provided with a concave surface on the side facing the direction of supply of the separating material and with a convex bulge opposite thereto. Good results can also be achieved instead of a convex curvature if the opposite sides are configured to extend straight in the horizontal plane. In the interaction of the concavely/convexly embodied belt surfaces of the separating element with their movement along the curved path, a particularly good separation process is obtained when contamination formation is largely avoided.

In a further preferred embodiment of the separation device, provision is made for: the separating element is heatable as a component of the resistance heating device, and preferably the temperature of the separating element is set and monitored, particularly preferably with the use of at least one thermocouple. In addition to the thermocouple mentioned, alternatively or additionally, the temperature measurement can also be carried out by a touchless, optical temperature measurement, for example by means of a pyrometer or an infrared camera, and the values thus obtained can be included in the temperature adjustment for the separation process.

By adjusting the current intensity, the temperature of the cutting or separating tape can be adjusted to a desired temperature and kept constant. It goes without saying that the optimum band temperature is dependent on the plastic material used for the hose material and also on the particular hose geometry and the wall thickness of the hose.

In an advantageous manner, the strip-shaped separating element can be heated briefly to a much higher temperature in the rest state in order to ensure sterility. In this case, the impurities which may adhere to the separating element are also burnt in a targeted manner beforehand and not during the actual hose cutting, in order to additionally suck off the combustion gases formed, the inclination of the separating element according to the utility model with respect to the horizontal decisively contributing to an improved flow guidance.

In order to compensate for thermal length expansion of the strip-shaped separating element due to different temperatures and to remain in the clamping position for the upcoming cutting and separating process, the advantage is that: the holding device is designed as a holding clip, which, with its opposing clip parts as the holding element, preferably secures the strip-shaped separating element under tension to its free end with a predefinable prestress. At a much lower use temperature, the separating element can therefore also have a smaller width and/or thickness in terms of its belt dimensions and nevertheless have the mechanical stability necessary for the separating process in question, which is advantageous for the desired cutting quality. In particular, the rigidity of the belt material can be significantly increased at the low application temperatures mentioned according to the utility model. This in turn enables an additional reduction of the inclination of the contact surface of the hose and the strip-shaped separating element and thus helps to minimize smoke formation and thus the mentioned pollutants in addition to a reduced temperature.

In principle, the strip-shaped separating element can also be operated "cold", i.e. without an additional heat supply to the separating element, provided that: the separation in the form of a hose has corresponding geometrical and mechanical properties at the temperatures prevailing, which are suitable for the separation process.

It has proven to be particularly economical in reality that: as drive means, an electric motor or a linear drive, such as a pneumatic cylinder, is used, the respective axis of rotation of which constitutes the pivot axis for the holding means, which is articulated with its free end face on the drive means and is freely held with its other free end face by a bearing. Thus, a delay-free manipulation of the separating element along the curved track can be achieved.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the separation device according to the utility model, provision is made for: a suction device is arranged below the deepest part of the curved path reached by the separating element, which suction device has a supply for gaseous medium (e.g. air with low particles or bacteria) and a corresponding output for the medium, and the supply and the output are arranged on opposite sides of the suction device, which suction device is skipped at least partially by the separating element on its curved path. Contaminants that may form within the scope of the separation process can thus be quickly and efficiently led out of the separation area of the hose.

The utility model also relates to a container product, in particular produced using a separating device as described above, using cycloolefins (cycloolefin copolymers (COC), cycloolefin polymers (COP)), fluorine-and/or chlorine-containing thermoplastic polymers as plastic materials. The separation device according to the utility model is of particular interest for the field of application of container manufacturing, since with it a separation process with low contamination can be carried out even at low temperatures in order to reliably avoid: within the scope of the separation process, for example, highly toxic and corrosive fluorine-or chlorine-containing gases may form, which are already unacceptable for reasons of operational safety.

Advantageously, the drive has an electric motor or a linear drive, the respective axis of rotation of which constitutes the pivot axis for the holding device, which is hinged with its one free side to the respective drive and is freely held with its other free side by a bearing.

Drawings

The separation device according to the utility model is described in detail later on by means of an embodiment according to the drawings. In this case, the schematic and not-to-scale illustration is shown very simplified:

fig. 1 and 2 show perspective top views of the main components of the separation device, while using an electric motor or pneumatic cylinder as a component of the drive;

fig. 3 shows an end view of an 8-weight hose head with holding jaws arranged thereunder and a separating apparatus according to fig. 1 arranged therebetween;

fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a possible belt design for a separating element of the separating apparatus according to fig. 1 and 2; and is also provided with

Fig. 5 shows a partial perspective top view of the holding jaw and the hose head delivery arranged thereon and the separating element arranged therebetween, which is guided movably along a curved track above the holding jaw.

Detailed Description

The separating device shown in fig. 1 has a separating element 10 which is held by a holding device 12 which is guided in a movable manner in mutually opposite curved or arcuate feed directions by means of a drive 14. The two feed directions mentioned (forward and backward) lie in a common curved path which can form a circular arc segment and whose deepest part, viewed along a vertical line, is shown in fig. 5. In the present exemplary embodiment, for a separating process, separating element 10 is guided by means of clip-shaped holding device 12 on the separating object in the form of at least one extruded thermoplastic tube, separating element 10 being moved forward in the curved feed direction for the separating process by the observer when viewed in the direction of view of fig. 1, and separating element 10 being returned in the opposite feed direction after the separating process has ended.

As can also be seen from fig. 1, the separating element 10 is of strip-shaped design, and the holding device 12 accommodates the separating element 10 between the opposing arm-shaped holders 16, 18. As shown in fig. 4, the strip-shaped separating element 10 can be accommodated on the end side in the holding device 12 for obtaining a predefinable inclination with an inclination angle α, which for the present exemplary embodiment should be approximately 5 ° when viewed horizontally, but which is not shown to scale in fig. 4 for simplicity. It goes without saying that, according to the illustration of fig. 4, in the described curved forward feed movement of the separating element 10, the associated lower separating edge 20 is arranged on the lowermost surface of the strip-shaped separating element 10, as viewed along a vertical line.

Furthermore, the separating element 10 can have, starting from this separating edge 20, two opposite belt surfaces (not shown) extending parallel to one another in order to form a belt, wherein in a preferred embodiment according to the illustration according to fig. 4, the separating element 10 is formed asymmetrically in cross section and is formed concavely on a side 22 facing the vertical supply direction of the upper side of the separator in the form of at least one hose and extends flat on the opposite side 24. However, the following possibilities also exist: in an embodiment not shown further, the lower belt surface 24 is configured convexly, depending on the material of the separator to be cut.

The separating element 10 is electrically heatable as a component of the resistance heating device, and the respective temperature of the separating element 10 is monitored in order to use at least one thermocouple 26, which is shown only schematically and is mounted on the left end of the separating element 10, as seen in the view of fig. 1. In fig. 1, an electrical supply line 27 leading to the separating element 10 is shown. However, the following possibilities also exist if necessary: the power supply is directly effected via the arm-like holding arms 16, 18. By adjusting the current intensity in the range of the resistance heating, the temperature of the illustrated strip-shaped separating element 10 can be adjusted and set to the desired temperature. Typically, a constant voltage of between 5V and 25V in alternating voltage may be used when the variable current strength is in the range of 5A to 150A. As galvanic couple 26, a highly flexible, mineral-insulated element of type K is preferably used. The optimum strip temperature is dependent on the material used and the geometry of the extruded hose and its wall thickness and can be adjusted in this respect by means of a temperature control device. The separation of halogen-containing plastics, such as PFA/MFA, FEP, PVDF, ETFE and ECTFE and PCTFE, in particular chlorine-containing plastics, is carried out at temperatures of from 80℃to 300℃and preferably at temperatures of from 100℃to 250℃and particularly preferably at temperatures of from 180℃to 230℃the abbreviations for the plastics selected above being given in ISO 1043-1:2016-09.

Advantageously, the band-shaped separating element 10 or the cutting band is heated briefly to a much higher temperature in the rest state in order to ensure sterility. In this way, impurities which may adhere to the separating element 10 are removed in a targeted manner outside the original separating process or hose section and the gas or vapor formed in this way is sucked away. In order to compensate for the expansion of the strip-shaped separating element 10 due to the elevated temperature and to remain in the clamping position for the separating process at all times, it is expedient: the separating element 10 is inserted into the holders 16, 18 of the holding device 12 with a predefinable mechanical stress. However, the following possibilities also exist: the two holding arms 16, 18 are provided with clamping forces in mutually opposite directions via a pre-tightening device, not shown in detail, in order to thus be able to pre-stress the separating element 10.

By a much lower use temperature than in the prior art, the separating element can thus also have a smaller width and/or thickness and nevertheless provide sufficient mechanical stability for the separation process, since the rigidity of the material used for the separating element 10 must be much higher in view of the low application temperature. This in turn enables: the additional reduction of the possible contact surface of the extruded hose with the separating element 10 thus additionally helps to minimize the undesired formation of contaminants in addition to the reduced use temperature.

As shown in fig. 4, the separating element 10 has an average thickness of about 1mm when the width is about 10mm, measured from the separating edge 20 to the rear side 28 of the separating element. Depending on the number of hoses to be divided of the multiple hose head 30, as it is shown in fig. 2 in a strongly simplified and only partially, the separating element 10 may have a length of up to about 400mm, measured in the horizontal direction between the holders 16, 18. Thus, the length is sufficient when the multiple hose head 30 has eight extrusion nozzles 32 for eight plastic hoses (not shown) that are present at the same time as in the present case. Also depending on the plastic material used, the preferred separation or cutting speed for the separating element 10 is in the range of 100mm/s to 600mm/s, preferably in the range of 200mm/s to 500 mm/s.

According to the utility model, a low-contamination separation of thin-walled hoses which are also composed of particularly light polymers such as polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and cycloolefin polymers (COP) and cycloolefin copolymers (COC) is achieved. It is also possible that: the multi-layer hose produced by coextrusion is cut according to the utility model, as is shown for example in EP1616549B 1.

Preferably, a polymer material is used having a tensile modulus of less than 2.2GPa, preferably less than 2GPa, in accordance with DIN EN ISO 527 (2019-12) at room temperature. The cross section of the hose to be cut may be substantially circular or, in particular, may have a more elliptical cross section in accordance with the BFS method when manufacturing ampoule blocks.

The electric motor 34 is used to obtain a curved path for the separating element, the driven axis of which constitutes the rotation axis 36 along which the clip-like holding device 12 as a whole is pivotably guided via the associated pivoting device 38.

In the embodiment according to fig. 2, the linear drive in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 40 acts on the drive 14 for the clip-like holding device 12, the pneumatic cylinder 40 being pivotably hinged on its free housing side to a receptacle 42 which is part of the drive 14 and on its other lever side to a pivot holder 43 which in turn acts pivotably on the receptacle 42 along the pivot or rotation axis 36. Also visible in fig. 2 is a joint 44 for the cable guide device 27, which is not shown in fig. 2 for simplicity.

The production process according to the utility model with the use of the aforementioned separating device is now shown in detail by means of the illustration in fig. 3. The process is used in particular for producing shaped, filled and closed container articles, such as ampoules or bottles. Such containers produced according to the so-called BFS method are available on the market in a number of embodiments and are therefore not discussed in detail here. In particular to containers for pharmaceutical purposes, which have a fill volume of less than 2 liters and/or have a empty bottle weight of less than 0.06kg as lightweight containers.

Essential for obtaining the container article are: the hoses are extruded in a vertical extrusion direction by means of conventional extrusion devices using a carrier gas. Within the scope of the described production process, the 8-weight hose head 30 according to fig. 3 has a nipple 46 on its front end side connected to the extrusion device and eight individual hoses are discharged via eight discharge nozzles 32 on the underside of the hose head 30 to further container production. The holding adjustment element 48 is typically used for adjusting the position of the nozzle 32 and is used as an integral part of the hose head 30.

The respective hose is then preferably closed at its lower end in order to bring the holding jaw 52 into abutment against the hose. Instead of the holding jaws 52 shown in fig. 3, hose clamps according to DE102020002077.7 disclosed later, which are suitable for this, can also be used in general. The hoses are then separated at their open upper ends by means of the separating device as previously shown, and as illustrated in fig. 1, an electric motor 34 is used as the drive 14, which correspondingly moves the holding device 12 in an arcuate manner forward in the separating feed direction by means of the pivot holder 38 and in the process performs a separating process on the respective hose along a curved path by means of the separating element 10. The electric motor 34 then pivots the separating element 10 back again into its initial position.

The plastic hose discharged via the respective nozzle 32 is also normally heat softened during the separation process. A suitable holding jaw solution is disclosed by way of example in WO 02/49021 A2 and a hose clamp is correspondingly shown in DE102020002077.7, which is disclosed later. The substantially circular arc-shaped track (curved track) for the separating element 10 has a radius of about 100mm to 300mm, preferably 150mm to 220 mm. If the electric motor 34 is configured as a stepper motor, different cutting speeds can also be achieved during the cutting cycle. For example, a fast approach to the hose, a slower cut and a fast movement after the cut can be achieved. The described reduced formation of particulate contaminants occurs during the cutting or separating process, since, apart from the optimum low cutting temperature due to, for example, the curved cutting guide according to the design of fig. 4 and the asymmetrical geometry of the cutting belt, only a minimal contact surface is produced in the sense of an edge contact between the belt-shaped separating device 10 and the hose. This effect is further assisted by the fact that the separating element 10 is accommodated in the holding device 12 so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle α relative to a horizontal reference plane.

The arcuate or curved track extension for the strip-shaped cutting strip 10 can likewise be realized by means of the pneumatic drive 40 according to fig. 2.

As is shown in particular in fig. 5, the respective circular through openings 54 of the holding jaws 52 are delimited at the edge side by webs 55 which have slit-shaped supply openings 56 opposite one another in pairs and likewise slit-shaped outlet openings 58 for particle-free and fungus-free air (also referred to as pure air hereinafter). By means of such pure air, the guide device can lead out the possible contaminants on the shortest path in a targeted manner, and furthermore, since the pure air guide device produces cooling of the open hose section when required, this helps to stabilize the opening produced in this way. In this case, the pure air is guided horizontally in the form of a barrier flow, as is shown in fig. 5 by means of flow arrows extending parallel to one another from left to right, the direction of the pure air flow essentially corresponding to the direction of the separation process, as is shown in fig. 5.

After separation of the respective hose section from the hose, the hose section is usually shaped in a mold by means of a pressure gradient, and the container thus obtained is then filled and closed again in the usual manner. After opening the mold and removing the closed and thus finished container article, the production process ends, which in a preferred embodiment allows a somewhat continuous production of each type of container article within the scope of the BFS method. The separation described here is preferably carried out at a small distance, preferably at a minimum distance of less than 5mm, particularly preferably less than 3mm, from the holding jaw 52 according to fig. 3 or from the hose clamp used. Plastic hoses and separated hose sections made of plastic materials made of at least one partially crystalline or non-crystalline polyolefin, which have an average weight of less than 0.1kg, preferably less than 0.07kg and an average wall thickness of less than 0.5cm, preferably less than 0.2cm, have proved to be particularly suitable in the separation sector. Preferably, in case of using the described separation device, the BFS container can be manufactured from halogen containing polymers, in particular fluoropolymers. The container (to which ampoule articles belong) is particularly suitable for containing a pharmaceutical product containing a partially fluorinated alkane, in particular polyfluorohexyl n-octane for inhalation medicaments. Furthermore, the container is suitable for ophthalmic preparations, for example for prostaglandins like active ingredients which are poorly water-soluble (EP 2110126B9, US2020/0360285 A1).

Furthermore, it is possible to fill medicines in which dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used, for example for analgesic gels and sprays also in combination with diclofenac and heparin, and for wart treatment with fluorouracil.

For animal medicaments, containers composed of fluorine-containing polymers can be used advantageously in liquid antiparasitic agents which contain N-methyl-pyrrolidone as solvent and contain imidacloprid, chlorphenamine and/or butylhydroxytoluene (E321) and/or butylhydroxyanisole (E320).

BFS containers composed at least in part of fluorine-containing polymers or Cyclic Olefin Polymers (COP) or Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COC) are of particular interest when packaging liquid medicaments whose formulation constituents tend to adsorb on container surfaces composed of glass, polyethylene or polypropylene. Among these are, for example, aromatic ethers or preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride, benzoates, and the preservatives m-cresol and phenol commonly used for insulin.

Furthermore, the BFS container made of fluorine-or cycloolefin-containing (COC, COP) polymers produced with the apparatus according to the utility model is also suitable for packaging formulations which contain as active ingredient at least one protein which is readily adsorbed (EP 3572061 A1). With the described solution according to the utility model it is possible to: the contamination that forms during the separation or hose cutting is minimized by the described cutting band dimensions and geometry and in particular by the inclination angle α with respect to the horizontal plane by the optimum band temperature that can be adjusted polymer-specifically and hose geometry-specifically and by the minimum contact surface between the band-shaped separating element 10 and the heat-softened hose being reached.

Thus, a safe and smooth cutting can also be achieved by a thin-walled hose of low specific weight, and a high production safety can be achieved by means of the separating device by means of a low-wear and low-maintenance operation. The separation device requires little installation space in the BFS manufacturing machine and also creates the possibility of supplying pure air while sucking due to the small space requirement, which significantly reduces the risk of contamination of the container products. Since the separating device has only a small mass to be moved (essentially consisting of the holding means 12 with the separating element 10), a very fast cutting movement can be achieved, so that a high production speed can be achieved, which contributes to a reduction of the manufacturing costs of the mentioned BFS container.

Claims

1. Separation device with a separation element (10) held by holding means (12) which perform a separation process on a separation object in mutually opposite feed directions in a movably guided manner by means of a drive means (14) in at least one direction, characterized in that,

the separating element (10) is embodied in the form of a strip,

the holding device (12) accommodates the separating element (10) between opposite holders (16, 18) and

the separating element can be moved through the separating object along a curved path by means of the holding device (12).

2. A separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating element (10) is accommodated in the holding device (12) with a predefinable inclination with respect to the respective feed direction.

3. A separating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the separating element (10) in the form of a strip is accommodated in the holding means (12) at an inclination angle (α) for obtaining a predefinable inclination, which inclination angle is between 3 ° and 15 ° with respect to the horizontal, such that the respective separating edge (20) is arranged on the lowermost face of the separating element (10) as seen in the vertical direction during a horizontal feed movement of the separating element (10).

4. A separation device according to claim 3, characterized in that the inclination angle (α) is between 3 ° and 10 ° with respect to the horizontal direction.

5. The separating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the separating element (10) has, starting from its separating edge (20), two opposite faces extending parallel to one another in order to form a belt or, seen in cross section, the separating element (10) is asymmetrically and concavely embodied on the side (22) facing the direction of supply of the separating body and convexly or rectilinearly embodied on the opposite side (24).

6. A separation device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the separation element (10) is electrically heatable as part of a resistance heating means.

7. A separation device according to claim 6, characterized in that the temperature of the separation element (10) is monitored.

8. A separation device according to claim 7, characterized in that the temperature of the separation element (10) is monitored using at least one thermocouple (26).

9. A separating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the temperature of the separating element (10) and/or the temperature of the separator are selected such that they mainly cause a melting process of the plastic material of the separator.

10. A separating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive means (14) has an electric motor (34) or a linear drive, the respective rotation axis (36) of which constitutes the pivot axis for the holding means (12), which holding means are hinged with one free side thereof to the respective drive means and are held free with the other free side thereof by a support.

11. A separating device according to claim 10, characterized in that the linear drive is a pneumatic cylinder (40).

12. The separating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding means (12) are designed as holding clips, which hold the separating element (10) in the form of a strip on its free strip end with its opposite clip parts as the holding parts (16, 18) and exert a mechanical prestress on the separating element (10) at least during the separating process.

13. A separating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a suction device (50) is arranged below the deepest part of the curved path reached by the separating element (10), which suction device has at least one supply (56) for gaseous medium and a corresponding output (58) for the medium, and that the supply (56) and the output (58) are arranged on opposite slats (55) of the suction device (50), which slats the separating element (10) at least partially skips on its curved path.

14. The separation device according to claim 13, wherein the gaseous medium is pure air.

15. A container article, characterized in that it is manufactured from plastic using a separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.